However, Howe adds that Seattle has received greater interest from teams other than Patriots up to this point.

According to Howe, Sherman would be amenable to a trade to the Patriots if the two teams ever agreed to a deal.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media previously reported that the Patriots were one of a few teams to inquire about a potential trade for Sherman before the signedStephon Gilmore to a big-money contract at the start of free agency, so this doesn’t come as a big surprise.

Earlier in the day, Seahawks GMJohn Schneider confirmed during an appearance on ESPN 710 Seattle Wednesday that the trade rumors surrounding Sherman are “real,” perBob Condotta.

“What you’ve seen lately in the news is real. On both sides,” Schneider said. “I don’t know if anything would ever happen.”

Schneider made it clear that he’s spoken with Sherman about the trade buzz that has been going around.

“This isn’t a secret like this just came out of nowhere,” Schneider said, via Pro Football Talk. “People find things out and we’re not going to lie to each other and we’re not going to BS each other. It’s going to be all laid out, and like I said, that doesn’t happen everywhere. … It’s just open communication. He knows what’s going on. We know what’s going on. I don’t know if anything would ever happen, but like I tell people all the time, 98 percent of the deals that we’re involved with, we don’t follow through with. But at least we’ve opened that door, gone down the road and seen what’s behind Door A or Door B.”

Sherman, 28, is a former fifth-round pick of the Seahawks back in 2011. He’s currently in the fourth years of his five-year, $58.789 million contract that includes $40 million guaranteed and stands to make base salaries of $11.431 million and $11 million over the final two years of the agreement.

According to OverTheCap.com, trading Sherman would free up $9,231,000 of available cap space while creating $4,400,000 in dead money.

In 2016, Sherman appeared in all 16 games and recorded 58 tackles, four interceptions, a fumble recovery and 13 pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 13 cornerback out of 112 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding a potential Sherman trade as the news is available.